Thursday, September 1, 2005
The Kansas volleyball team embarks on its first road trip of the season tonight as it takes on Utah Valley State in the first match of the UVSC/Brigham Young Challenge.
Utah Valley State is in its third season of Division I volleyball. The team had its best season last year, going 11-16. The Wolverines return seven players from that squad, including a second team all-independent selection in junior setter Lacee Koelliker.
Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard said his team might be at a slight disadvantage. The Jayhawks will be playing in Orem, Utah, on the Wolverines’ home court and they don’t know much about their style of play.
“It’s their first match, so they’ve probably seen us on tape, and we don’t have that opportunity,” Bechard said. “Early on we’ll probably have to make a change on the run. We’re not sure what to expect.”
Photo by Justin O'Neal
Senior middle blocker Josi Lima spikes the ball past a UMKC defender during a game Saturday night. The volleyball team travels to Utah for the BYU/UVSC Volleyball Challenge today and tomorrow.
Kansas is 2-0 going into the match up with UVSC. Victories over Alabama and Missouri-Kansas City last weekend have the team confident that it will be ready to play in Utah.
Kansas will take on Montana State on Saturday afternoon in Provo, Utah. Montana State is 2-1, with its only loss coming to second-ranked Washington, the team that eliminated the Jayhawks from the NCAA tournament last year. MSU is led by senior middle blocker Megan Zanto, who garnered first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors last season.
The marquee match up of the tournament, however, will come tomorrow night when Kansas takes on BYU. The Cougars are looking to return to the NCAA tournament after missing out on the postseason last year. BYU is picked to win the Mountain West Conference, in which they finished third in 2004.
The Cougars return three all-conference performers among 10 letter winners. First-year coach Jason Watson will rely on their experience to push the team to the postseason.
Tomorrow night’s match will be emotionally charged. BYU will name the floor at Smith Fieldhouse after legendary coach Elaine Michaelis, who compiled a record of 886-225-5 while coaching the Cougars from 1961 through 2002.
Bechard said the scene will make the Jayhawks’ task difficult.
“We’ll have to sort through all of the emotion and do the things necessary for us to be successful,” Bechard said. “We can’t get in a situation where we allow that emotion to creep in and impact points or even game outcomes.”
Junior outside hitter Jana Correa said the Jayhawks would have a tough time with the Cougars, ceremony not withstanding.
“The main focus is passing and defense,” Correa said. “When we play BYU, they’re going to hit pretty hard and we need to be prepared for that.”
Bechard said the match could have a big impact on both teams’ seasons.
“It might be a point where you look later in the year where both teams may or may not be considered for NCAA tournament play,” Bechard said. “In that sense it may be pretty important. It will be a great test for us.”
— Edited by Anne Burgard
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